bench vices???????

[snag]

I don't have a stave press or anything to hold the stave. Is a wood vice that bolts onto a workbench a good second for holding your stave? Or is there a better way to go?

[John Scifres]

I have always used a bench vise.  It works great.  

I have 4x4 block to keep the stave/bow level and supported while I work it.  I have thick leather on the jaws of the vise and on the 4x4 block.  Also I glued 60 grit sandpaper on the bottom of the block to keep it from slipping.

[AKmud]

I have a similar setup to John's except I took the metal jaws off my vice and made some birch jaws to replace them.  Also, my bench isn't long enough to support the ends of the limbs so I use a 2x4 cut to the right height to brace it from the floor.

[Pat B]

Now, that's a workshop, John. Looks like someone works in it. d;^)
 I have a bench vise bolted to my work bench too. I use it for rough work mostly like getting the stave to floor tiller stage; removing bark and sapwood, removing excess belly wood and shaping up the sides of the stave. After that I use my bowyers bench for tillering.
 When I use Eric's gizmo I clamp the stave/bow handle in the bench vise.

[snag]

I like that idea John. Thanks. I will make a bowyer's bench someday....but for now it looks like a bench vice will do.

[Pennsyltuckey pete]

I use a bench vice and for padding I use a piece of 1/2 inch conveyor belt rubber.  Works like a charm.





pete

[snag]

Good idea Pete. I've got some retread but it would probably be too thick.

[DVSHUNTER]

I also use the bench vise. Although rather than stabd, I made a bench to work off of. I'll see if I can find a pic in photobucket.